Caterpillar- how to identify year of manufacture of castings

[martyn williams]

Dates of castings can be found on engine blocks,cylinder heads final drive casings etc.
This is a guide to decipher the casting codes.


N U M E R A L K O D
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
N = 0 K = 7
U =1 0= 8
M= 2 D = 9
E= 3
R = 4
A = 5
L = 6

If there are 6 letters on the casting it is the day,month and year that that piece was made.
Eg
U would be 1 M would be 2 (12)
U would be 1, N would be 0 (10)
K would be 7,D would be 9 (79)
There are 6 letters so I would know the date is 12-10-79 or 12th Oct 1979
If it has 4 letters it would be month and year of manufacture.
Hope this makes sense
Martyn

[modelman093]

Hi Martyn,
I remember the numeralkod from my days with Cat.However, on the six figure date codes I think that you may have overlooked the fact that the Yanks do not usually put the day first. The American company that I currently do business with put the year then the month and then the day and that also goes for the model, type and code numbers on Briggs and Stratton Engines. I think that it is unlikley that Cat would start with the day - unless , of course, you know different!
Regards
Angus

[martyn williams]

Thanks for the info Angus I have just had a thought.A lot of Cat equipment is made outside the USA these days, I wonder if the code has changes to it.Perhaps Stuart Bickley may have the answer on that ? Any info is greatfully received
Regards
Martyn
PS the info I got came from the USA. I thought about the month and day thing as the yanks always do it that way as you say.
I will ask the question on ACMOC.